Filling apparatus.



K. KIEFER.

muws APPARATUS. APPLICATION ILD DEC-18. gll. RENEWD OCT. 18. SI5 v Lgc, Patented Dec. 14, 1915 2 SHEEIS--SHEET 1.

Z7 9 if?" M. L? 6b i c 9, ffm/@afar UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

KARL VKIEFER, OF CINCINATI, OHIO. l

FILLING APYARATUS.

Speeifieation of Letters Patent.

Application led December 18, 191.1, Serial 110.666,47). Renewed Octobeg'lS, 1915: Serial No. 56,593.

. To all whom it may concern 5 'and useful Improvements inl Filling Appa- -v Be it known that I, KARL KIEFER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Cin-- cinnati, in the county of Hamilton and "State of Ohio, have. invented certain new ratus, ot' which the'following is a specification.

My invention relates to filling machines, and its object is lo-provide simple and effective means for ,governing the filling height. i :L

My invention consists in the novel details, and in their combination and einbodiserted into a bottle. Figs. 4 and 5 are par-l vltial elevations 01` the {illing tube of Fig. 1,

lso

stop. Iupper member of said gland. Fig. 11 is a 3 similar view of the collar. Fig. 12 is a secshowing different adjustments thereof. F ig.

6 illustrates a series ofpins used in the ditferent adjustments shown in Figs. \1, f1 and 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a modified filling tube embodying sonic of the details of my invention. Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of the gasket. Fig. 9 is asimilar view of the lower member of the gasket-supporting Fig. 10 is a detail plan view ot' the tional sidefelevation, illustrating a modification of the'adjustment device. Fig. 13 is an elevation of another modification of the lilling tube, with its mounting, the adjustment device being also modified. Fig. 14 is an inverted plan view of the stop used in 'the modification illustrated in Fig. 13.

In'tlie device illustrated inFigs. 1 to 3, and also used as the example in. Figs. 4 and 5, there is the combination of a filling tube with the valve in its free end, or tip, and means for closing-thc mouth of the bottle or other vessel against' the outer air, when the tube is inserted for operation.

4The valve in the tip of the tube is, pref-l erably, as shown, of the construction set forth in my co-pending application tiled Dey l e e cember 18, 1909, Serlal No: 533,934, with an annular valve seat engaging the slidable sleeve and a flexible washer supporting the valve seat. Such a valve has been generally used by ine-in connection with a machine wherein the mouth of the vessel is left open during the filling, as in the example of Figs. 13 and 14 in this specification; in such niachines, no particularly heavy pressure is needed in pressing the stop against the, vessel. Under such conditions, the valve above alluded to suffered"` no particular damage from the pressureofthe comparatively light spring employed.

In the example of Figs. 1 to 5, however, I have found that the strong spring that is needed to press the gasket against the bottle-top will, if also allowed to seat the valve in the tip of the tube, impose too much pressure on this valve, so that it is damaged and its effectiveness impaired in a short time.

The metal valve seat, as well as the jrubber.

washer that supports the seat, are, asis eviatented Dee. 1i, 1915.

dent, both necessarily delicate, since their' dimensions are limited to the small space allowable at the tip of the tube, which must be inserted into bottle-necks of small caliber.

I avoid the difliculties above pointed out by providing a strong spring that seats the Agasket on the bottle-top, and providing a second weaker spring to seat the valve in the tip of the tube. Thus, in Figs. 1 and 2, the tube l corresponds in function to the sleeve of my other application above ret'erred to, and the inner tube of said application is here represented by a short tube oi-cup 2, rigidly attached to a longer tube or vent 3, ot'less diameter, and running up through the tube 1, above the upper end of which it is supported by the weaker spring, and thus supports the cup 2. This cup 2 tits slidably in the tube 1, so that .the tube 1 guides the cup 2, and the lower end of the vent 3. As shown, the vent 3 is eccentric to the cup and to the tube 1 in its lower region, being secured to one side of said cup at its lower end. as by soldering, so as t0 be practically integral therewith.

The cup 2 has a lateral orifice 2' in its side opposite the vent 3, and two smaller orifices 3 are provided, one above the other `through the attached walls of thecup and iid The lower end ot' the cup 2 is closed and has a downwardly extending threaded stud` around which is the annular1v Valve s eat 2" and the fioxible/ washerv 22j-and upon. which is screwed the nut 2 to Support said.

washer and seat; the nut 2" is tapered, and forms the guiding tip of the tube. Other or additional guiding means may beprovided to insure the insertion of the tube into the bottle-neck, but need not be set forth herein.

The lupper end ofthe tube 'l-isrigidly attaehed centrally in a hub-1 which. slides in a head 4 and makes guiding Contact with the inner walls ofthe chamber 4a formed in said head, said hub having a flange la at its upper end to lmake such contact, but not to form a liquid-tight connection with said walls ofthe'ehamber. As shown, the upper end of the'tube' l is iush with the upper end of this .hub l, Slightly below the lower end of the'hub i 1, the 'tube has lateral oriiees 11', and the chamber 4"' receives said lower' end of the` hub 1 on its bottom ila', so that the tube is stopped from `further downward movement by this engagement, with its lateral ,orifices l below' the bottom 4nand inclosed by the closely fitting walls olthe tube passage 4b which the head has below its chamber 4a'.

This tube passage fl" isclosed againstleak yby a gland 4c in its' age around the tube 1 lower'end. f i

Immediately above .its bottom, theehain--o ber Athas the lateral inlet oriiiee 4, to which a supply pipe 5 extends .horizontally from the filling tank (i. This filling tank may bef construetedwith a'iloat that may control a valve yG" to maintain a; piaetieally unvaryin@ leve'l'of the liquid in the tank.'

he upper end .of the "vent 5 is rigidly at` taehed to a I guide .which has a lateral orifice' 3* from the vent into the chamber 4^. The lower end ot this guidewis yfzirj l enough above the upper end of the tube l to allow upward sliding ofthe tube to veirnose the orifices lb for direet communication with the inlet orifice 4d; also, the entire chamber.isf-positioned, in such relation' to the tank lia-11d its i'loat (in that the oritiee 3a oL the Venti-guide will be considerably above the" ievelf'fhfithe liquidiu the tank', and,-` consequent-ly; 'ortlie liquid in the'chainber f 4', "sineetlie tank `and eh amber eornniunif este through-the .tube For? guiding'fthe. mpi? ,if e 1e the.` head et' has a cap fle' o the chamber with a eentral open ige/N in which th(A i' 3H yof the/ven? sliI guide and compresses a helieal spring t, around 'the upper part of lease, the gasket, which may ber, will yield to any 'ot the vessel, land''thusreii'eetu'ally Close the l of the veut i' to provide /diii'erent' adjustments ingr height. is facilitated niore'than where'A gasket 'itself on the guide, down against the cap 4e; this is the weaker spring hereinbefore alluded to. The cap` 4f' has other openings 4-02, leaving the chamber 4: open to the atmosphere. Below the cap lle, the guide 3a has-a transverse Apin 3e,engaging the eap'to allow only a slight vertical upward movement ofv the vent, with attaehedeup 2 and valve parts, as pressed bythe spring 3, when the tube 1 and of the Valve parts supported thereby,

.the guide 3 ofthe vent, and the opening 4e in the eap 4e, through which the guide slides,

tube l is preventedby a y pressure of the spring 1cl on the tube.

parallel guide le,l extending down 'from a" lateral extension of the lower end of the head 1, the `colla-r lc `onfthe tube having an extension le that vslides on this guide le.

By `pi'eyeiiting turning ol the veiit 3 and 'attached parts, as 'wellA as of the tube l, the

seating ot' the valve iii the tip ofthe tube 15s maintained unuorni, so that it' will remain nime eiiieient. v y y 'lhe gasket 'r' that in'. res ytight connection 'with the top of the veas as best shown-in top 8coinpr1sin0, adan upper ei lq'ig. 2', is supported a as shoarma lower body.

gland S, tightly 'compressing a suitable' vpeeking around the tube il, `has a downwardly extended sleeve 8a', tit#` y The body 8 ting the tube snugly, upon which the gasket 'f7 is held by its own elasticity. This sleevev 8f4" is made thin, so that the gasket surface 4 approaches the tube eloselgyg'as required. As shown, the gasket 7 has :i hat side and a convex side, andthe i'iat side is presented downwardly; it may'b'e reversed. In either unevenness of the top connection thereat against the outer .,aii, and

against leakage of the liquidi?entering the 'vessel from the nilling aiiparatus.

be of soft rub- ,I vBy lmounting the gasket@ on` the lsleeve` the stop' releasable from the tube by unserewing its members, i'iiorement of the parte of the fillit nee on the tube,

the tube; at thesanio time the gasket makes tight eonneetio'n with thesleeve and adaf 4so 3, .with attached parts, to the weak spring I cent parts of the stop, and the stop, when* tightened, makes connection with the tube. The tightening of the stop 8, pressing the packing 8" against the tube, however, is not adequate to provide a positiveil support against sliding of the stop and t e gasket on the tube, under the somewhat heavy pressure that the spring 1d -opposes to the raising of the tube, as is necessary to afford the tight connection with the top of the vessel. To provide such positive support, without complication, I provide a pin 9 tostand parallel with the tube land enter a socket 8b in the upper side of the gland 8b of the stop 8, and to enter a socket lef in the lower side of the collar 1. By providing other pins, of different lengths, as the pins 9 and 9, in Figs. 4 and 5,. respectively, -suitable adjustments of the stop 8 and gasket 7 may be made, and `these parts positively maintained in such adjustments against the pressure of the spring 1d. A group of these assorted pins is shown in Fig. 6; it will be understood that any desired number of these pins may be provided `for each illing tube, varying in length by any ldesired amounts, to secure the full number of adjustments required for the different vessels to be filled. By havin the strong spring 1d to resist the rise of t e tube 1, but opposing the v ent` 3d` only, it will be seen that, as the tube 1 starts upward on -engagement of the vessel with the' gasket 7, the valve seat on the cup 2 and vent 3 will follow, as pulled up by the weaker spring 3, until the pin 3*? engages to stop this upward movement; then the tube l will continuehupward, exposing its orificeslb in the chamber, above, and exposing the orifices 2 and 3', of the cup` and vent, below'.- Liquid will now How from the tank 6, through the tube 1, into the 4cup 2, and into the vessel through the orifice 2 'and theair that was in the vessel will escape through the vent 3 and out through the open topof the chamber 4", above. This continues until the liquidrlevel in the vessel reaches the orifices 3', closing them against further lescape of air, upn which liquid will pass up into the vent through these orifices, illing it to the level of the liquid in thetank 6; when this level has been reached, all flow .of liquid lwill cease, and

x the vessel may be removed. When lthe next vessel is applied to the tube,l the exposure of the 'vent orifices 3 will allow down-flow of the liquid that had enteredthe vent 3, until such ow is balanced by airl pressureg accumulated in the bottle under action of the mainiiow from theorifice 2, .which began immediately after the How from the vent began, or rising'of the `tube 1. Then,

this excess of pressure of the air over that of the down-flow from the vent will result in reversal of the viow in the vent, and the ratus, as in those illustrated `and '13.

cilitate the operation of devices of this.

character, where it is desired to avail of a .closed bottle-top along with a illingftube with a valve in its tip.

The positive adjustment aiordedby the pins combined with the stop and collar is also of advantage in other forms of appain Figs. 7

The tube 1i of Fig'.- 7 hasifsvai've 11a in its upper end and has suitable means `12 inits Vlower end, or'tip, acting by capillarity, to holdliquid suspended in the tube on removal of the vessel. A vent 13 opens lat erallyl through the tube 11, immediately above the capillary li uid-suspension tubes 1'2 4provided in the en of the tube to'prevent dripping and extends up inside the tube, at one side thereof, to a point near the upper end, where it again opens through the side of the tube. The tube has a hub 11b that forms a shoulder around the tube immediately above the upper vent opening,

constituting a valve 11c seating on the bottom of the chamber 11, in which chamber the tube slides. This chamber has a lateral overflow orifice 14 shortly above the seat of the valve 11, and rising of the tube may allow direct communication of the vent 13 with this overoworifice. The upper part of the chamber 14 is enlarged, and the valve l1n of the tube 11 is seated on a seat 11a resting on the bottom of the enlarged part of the chamber. This enlarged art of the chamber-.has a lateral supply oriibe 15 leading from the reservoir 16, and the upper end of the chamber is closed by a plug 14a. Thelower end of thechamber has a -gland 14" y"around the tube 11. f

The `gasket 7 with its stop 8, identical withfthat before illustrated and described, is held by the pin 19 in pro er spaced relation with lthe collar 11e, w ich is like the.

collar 1c before shown, except that the extension 1? -is omitted, no guide for the tube, other than its mounting in the chamber 14, being'provided. This collar 11c compresses the spring 11d up against the gland 14", be-

ducted to a proper receptacle through an overflow pipel 14. Such a rece tacle may be one of the bottles next to be lled.

In the modification illustrated -in Fig. 12,

I 5 the tube 21 has thecollar 21 with the screw 21 and socket 21", like that of the previous exam-ples, and a spring '21d bears on this collar.' The lstop 28, however, comprises a lower body 28 andupp'er gland 28, with sleeveV '28" forthe .gasket 7,' and with socket 28?` for the' lower end of the pin 29, respectively. `The telescoping parts of these'menibers are smooth, and they comf press'th'e packing 28.by being. drawn to-` gether by two screws 28, fiankin'g the tube 21 and parallelthereto.

In Fig. 13, the tube has the valve at its tip "as in, Figs. '1 to 5.

This device is used on filling machines operating by syphonic action,vin which the -flow of liquid stops when the liquid in the vessel reaches the level o'f the liquid in the supply reservoir, and therefore does'not require tight connection with the bottle top; on the other hand,.open communication from the interior of the vessel to the outer' air is re-` quired at the top` of the vessel; VIn this device, the lower end of the inner tube 31' is closedand solid., supporting the valve seat 3l" and its flexible washer by the nut 31, be-

ing, in this respect the equivalent of the cup 2 of Figs. 1 to 5. he inner 'tube 31 has the lateral discharge' orifice 31', andthe lowery end of the outer tube '32 closes this orifice --when -it seats on the valve 31?. The up per, end of the outer tube has ahead 3.",

carrying a frame 32", and'this frame arches' over the pivotal mounting 33 of thein'ner tube -v31. A spring A32 stretches from the arch of the frameftofthis mounting, thus drawing the outer tube,32`do\vn softh'at its lower end seats'on lthe jvalve seat, as before mentioned This spring 32 need not' strong, under the conditions in this case, and Imayexert its full pressure on the valve parts ywithout damaging them. Relative turning of the inner and outer tubes is prevented by rovidingthepivoted pin 33 of the/mount in `.33' with a notch 33that receives the si e of the frame 32",V thus 'relieving the lvalve in the endl of the tube of the effects of YGO relativeshiftin .of its engaging parts, as

was before allu edto connection with the description 'of thedevlce shown in Figs. 1 to5...

lThe stopi34, corand stopof the' pre l ingexamples, is split at one side, with a transverse screw 34 drawingit together and clamping itv on 'the outerv tu ysimilar to the collar of the previous examl les. However, the member that correspon s to the collarherle, .isthef head 32l of the outer tube. Itvreceives the tensioniof the spring 32 and transmits it to the outer` tube, and it is'betwengitand the stop 34 that the onding to the gasket mon, an `outer tube sli ing. over sa pin 39 is interposed. This pin 39 fits a socket 34 inthe upper side of the stop 34, but as here shown, there is no socket in the under side of the head 32.*",v the pin merely en aging atrandom with this under side.

he lower side of the stop 34 has radial grooves 34", venting the engagement of the stop with the bottle-top, under the requirements above mentioned. With a small bottle,

even with a small tube, the projection of the tube below the` liquidlevel may be in bulk equal to a considerable proportion of the ca- 1"- pacity of the bottle, whereupon this bulkl vmust be lessened by raising. the tube withl respect-tothe liquid level. YVith a larger bottle, where the bulk of the tube is not lso significant, the tube not'only maybelarger, j but may be lowered so that'the advantage of rapid outfiow resu1ts, vfrom 'increasing the ,as

distance of the outlet below the level'of liquid supply. The stop 34 is used for this purpose. he action bein flow need be provided'- or. Such apparatusI is fully describedin in Patent No."865,395,"y 1

dated .Septemberl 10,1 7, as welll asin my` co-pending application liere'inbefore` referred to;

The novel` adjusting' device herein set forth, it 'will be seen, is applicable tb'the i various devices illustrated as, examples, and

the combination embraced in Figs. v1 to 5 is especially applicable to a rotary machine, as

that of my co-pending application above re ferred'to, or to the power-driven rotary ma chine set forth in my 'Patent No. 1,017,418, dated February 13, 1912..

Havin what I c aim as new and desire to secure by-l Letters Patent is:

l. In filling apparatus, a tube, a valveseat fully described my inventiomf,

engaging with the endl of the tube, a head* in which the tube is slidablea vent extend-in ing fromthe valve seat throughth'tube Vand into said head, a guide fdfthe tubelsup'port-g ed in the head parallel to the tube,`and a piotube relative to thevalve seataI ,jection from -the tube engagingwithr the? j guide, said guide preventing turning'of the 2.' In filling apparatus, telescopin' mem` bers,-the.inner one of which has a ho low in terior'with closed end and lateralorifice, and

the outer one sliding lover the orificeyan anlar valveseat around the stud with i the end of the outer for the stop to limit the movement of tube, 'a flexible Washer supporting the valve seat, a nut on the stud supporting the washer, and means for preventing the turning of the cup and said parts supported thereby, tube, during the sliding of the tube.

431m filling apparatus, a tube, a valve seat engaging with the end of the tube, a vent rigidly connected to the valve seat, a guide vent of angular cross-section, said vent comprising means which coperate'with said guide of angular cross section to prevent the turning of the vent with the valve seat, a spring moving the vent, and with it the valve seat and the guide, and a transverse pin in the guide to stop the movement \caused by said spring.

U'. In filling apparatus, a tube, a valve seat enaging with the end of the tube, a stop on the tube through vessel moves the tube of the `tube\\f ro'm the valve seat, a spring pressing the tube toward the valve seat, a the tube 'as pressed by said spring, a second spring pressing the valve seat toward the end of the tube in opposition to the aforesaid spring, and a stop. for the valve seat, limiting its movement as pressed by said second spring.

6. In filling apparatus, a tube, a valve4 seat engaging w1th the end of the tube, av spring pressing seat, a stop for the tube'under such'pressure, and a sp'ing supporting the valve seat against the end of the tube.

7. lIniilling apparatus, a tube, a valve seat engaging with the end of the tube, a spring pressing the tube toward the valve seat, a stop fortlleitube under such pressure, a springsupportiiig the valve against the end of the tube and causing it to follow the tube on movement of the tube away from it,

' and a stop to limit 'such following ofthe Y stops to' vlimit the l5,-

8." In filling apparatus, a tube, a valve seat engaging the end of the tube, a stop on the tube'and a gasket o n the stop to engage with a vessel in which the tube is inserted, a spring to cause pressure of, the gasket on the vessel, a, second 'spr'ing to cause pressure of the valve seat on 4the end of the tube, and also to cause the valve seat to follow the. tube on movement of the tube away fromy it, and movements of said tube and said valve seat under the pressures of their respective springs. 9. In filling apparatus, a tube, a valve seat engaging with the 'end of the tube, means-- 'for causing the engagement ofthe valve seat with the endof the tube, a stop tightened on the.tube,a. gasket carried by the stop for engagement with a vessel into whic the tube is inserted, a collarv tightened on .the tube,p causefpressure' of the gasket on the vessel,

and of said outer which engagement of atodisengage the endthe tube toward the'v'alve.

packing compressed aroundthe members,

a spring engaging the' collar' to' and a removable pin between the collar and said stop, to transmit said pressure from the spring tothe gasket.

10. In filling apparatus, a tube, a gasket thereon to engage a vessel into which the tube is inserted, a spring to press the gasket against the vessel, and spacing mea-ns between the gasket and the spring, transmitting said pressure, removing the gasket from the tube.

11. In filling apparatus, a. tube, agasket, supporting means on the tube for the gasket, a .spring to press the gasket a ainst av vessel into which the tube isinserte porting means on the tube for said and spacing means between the respective supporting means, and removable without removing the gasket from the tube.

12. In filling apparatus, a tube, a gasket, releasable supporting means on the tubefor the gasket, a spring to ress the gasket against a vessel into whicii the tube is inserted, releasable supporting means on the tube for the spring, and spacing means between the respective supporting means, and removable without removing the gasket from the tube.

13. In filling apparatus, a tube, a gasket, a. stop supporting the gasket and adjustable along the tube, a collar secured on the tube, and a pin spacing the stop fromthe collar and adapted to be removed or replaced withspring,

a Sup."

and removable without oubteremovingthe stop or gasket from the 14. In filling apparatus, a tube, a stop comprising opposed co-acting'l members, a tube by said members, a collar secured onthe tube, and a. pin engaging said collar and one of the members of the stop.

15. In filling apparatus, a tube, a stop comprising opposed c o-acting members, a packing compressed around the tube by said members, a collar secured on the tube, said\ collar and one of the. members of the stop having sockets, and a 4pin engaging within the sockets and collar.y

'16. In filling appa-ratus, -a tube, a stop vcom risin o osed co-actmv members a packing compressed around the tube by said a sleeveextending from one of the members around l'the tube,`a gasket on the sleeve against said member of the stop, the other member ofthe stop having a socket, a collar secured to the tube and also having a socket, and a pin engaging within the sockets and spacing the stop from the collar.

17. In'fi'lling apparatus, a tube, a gasket, packing means supporting the gasket on the tube, a spring resisted by said packing means, and spacing means between the pack- 'ing neans and the spring, removable without removing the packing means from the tube.

spacing the stop from the i the-projection, removable without removing the stop from the tube. y

20` In filling, apparatus, a tube, a stop ieleasably secured von the tube, a`projection'secured to tlie tube, andv spacing means between thestop and the projection, removable without removing the stoptrein the tube. 21. In fillingapparatus," a'ftub'e,'a"stop re- `leasably seoui'edfonitlie'tubeg a projection releasably secured tothe tube, and spacing means between the stop and. the projection, reinovablewithout removing the stop from the tube. fm' i 22. yIn filling apparatus, a. tube-,1a stop on the tube, -a projection secured tothe. tube, a

2,5 vspring acting on tli tube through'rthe pro- Jection, and spacing means between the stop and the projection, reinovable'fwithout removing tlie stopfroni the tubew 23. In filling. apparatus, a tube, a. stop -leasably*secured` to they tubeand-'having a socket, a project-ion secured=tothe tube, a I spring 'acting on the'tube through said projection, and a pinfitting in thesocket in the stop, enga ing the projection and beingre- 'movable f om the socket;

24. In filling apparatus, in `combination Vwith a tube' and means-on said tube for de# "termining the distance which. the tube is in' serted into "a vessel, said means being ad- 40 justable with respect to the-tube, a series oi` different'. and interchangeable spacing ele-- ments adapted to engage with said .adjustable means to hold it stationary in its various adjusted4 'positions and removable withm 45, oui; removing said means from the tube. y

25. In filling apparatus, iny 4combination with a. tube and meanson said tube for de terniining tliedistance which the tube is inserted into apvessel, said meansbeing adjustable with respect vto i the tube, means -for clamping the'adjustable means. to hold it. stationary on the tube in its various adjusted positions, and a positively reinforcing spae- 'ing means toresist movement of the positioning means from its clampedl position in spacingy meansto resist movement of the' meansfrom its clamped position in one dii, rection, said spacingmeanscomprising a series of different interchangeable spacin' elements adapted to engage with saidacjust able positioning means in its various`v ad.- justed positions, and removable without.ref`v movin r said adjustable means fromv` the Lube., 27. n flling'apparatus, a'tube, a stop .to

y be clamped on the tube in various positions theiealong, positive resistive means on the tube, and a series of interchangeable spacing pins adapted to engage between the stop andY the resistive means to reinforce the 'clamping of the stop in its various adjustedV positions,`and removable without said stop from the tube.

In testimony Y. whereof removing Y I have heneunto signed my name in the ypresence ofiftvvo sub-` 81.

scribing witnesses. KARL KIEFER. `Witnesses:` f

' CLARENCE Pniinnw,

E. E. FINCH, 

